Latching mechanism for knitting machine carriage

ABSTRACT

A latching mechanism for the carriage of a knitting machine that is slidable along slide rails on the bed of the machine and pivotable about one of said slide rails. A latch plate is slidably mounted in the carriage and has associated therewith a depending latch dog. The latch dog is provided with an inclined surface which is cooperable with a surface on a second slide rail so as to permit sliding movement of said latch dog on said second slide rail against the force of a spring until registration of a flange on the latch dog with a cooperating recess in said second slide rail occurs and the latch dog thereby snaps into nested latched position within said second slide rail thereby locking the carriage to the slide rails. The carriage is so formed that when it rests upon the second slide rail the weight distribution thereof causes said sliding of the latch dog to take place against the spring bias until the latch dog snaps into nested latched position.

Unite States Patent Cariddi [111 3,823,580 [451 July 16,1974

[ LATCHING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINE CARRIAGE John C. Cariddi, Saddle Brook, NJ.

[73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

[22] Filed: May 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 363,463

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarshall J. Breen; Chester A. Williams, Jr.; Joel Halpern [57 ABSTRACT A latching mechanism for the carriage of a knitting machine that is slidable along slide rails on the bed of the machine and pivotable about one of said slide rails. A latch plate is slidably mounted in the carriage and has associated therewith a depending latch dog. The latch dog is provided with an inclined surface which is cooperable with a surface on a second slide rail so as to permit sliding movement of said latch dog on said second slide rail against the force of a spring until registration of a flange on the latch dog with a cooperating recess in said second slide rail occurs and the latch dog thereby snaps into nested latched position within said second slide rail thereby locking the carriage to the slide rails. The carriage is so formed that when it rests upon the second slide rail the weight distribution thereof causes said sliding of the latch dog to take place against the spring bias until the latch dog snaps into nested latched position.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUN 51974 3. 823 580 Fig. 3 Fig. 4

LATCHING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINE CARRIAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is conventional, in the field of hand knitting machines, to provide the needle bed of the machine with at least two slide rails along which the carriage slides. The carriage is provided, on its inner surface adjacent the needle bed, with the desired cam system operable upon the butts or heels of the needles to reciprocate the needles in accordance with the knitted pattern to be effected. Such carriages are generally manually operable, being provided with a handle to facilitate manipulation. Certain machines, however, are provided with electric motor drive means whereby the carriage may be reciprocated under the influence of the motor drive. The present invention is applicable to'knitting machines provided with either manually operable or motor driven'carriages. In either case it has been customary to pivot the carriage or a portion thereof about one of the slide rails and to lock the carriage to a second slide rail for longitudinal movement along such rails during the knitting procedure. Further, the carriage is removable from the slide rails when desired, such as when the machine is to be transported or when one or more of the cams are to be replaced or readjusted. Whenever the carriage has been removed from the bed of the machine, or unlocked and pivoted away from said second slide rail for any purpose, it is essential that the carriage be once again positively locked to the second rail before knitting is resumed. Failure to achieve such positive locking with the second slide rail can occasion jamming of the machine, damage to the needles or to the knit work already completed. Also, unless the carriage is locked positively to the second rail it is not possible to achieve the intended camming action through cooperation of the cams and needles.

Locking or latching mechanisms utilized heretofore have failed to insure such positive locking.

The principal disadvantages of prior locking and latching mechanisms were (a) that in order to remove the carriage from the needle bed it was necessary to manually disassemble a locking device before the carriage was slid endwise along the rails, and it was necessary to reassemble such locking device after the carriage was replaced on the rails, (b) with carriages which did not require disassembly and reassembly of the locking device it was nevertheless necessary to manually reset a mechanical latching device after the carriage was replaced on the needle bed in order to properly lock the carriage to the bed in operative knitting relationship. However, it was not readily apparent to the operator that proper locking had been effected although the carriage was atop the slide rails in what appeared to be the correct position. Consequently, unbeknown to the operator, knitting was frequently initiated without the carriage being positively locked to the slide rails and, as stated above, the consequence of such faulty locking or latching was often jamming of the machine, needle damage or damage to the already knit fabric still on the needles of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism for the carriage of a manually-operable knitting machine which will assure positive locking of the carriage on the slide rails of the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism for locking of the carriage of a manually-operable knitting machine which is actuated by placement of the carriage into the knitting position on the slide rails.

Other objects and advantages of the latching mechanism will become readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a latching mechanism for the carriage of a knitting machine adapted to be slidably carried by at least two longitudinally extending slide rails on the bed of said machine, said carriage being pivotable about one of said slide rails, said mechanism comprising at least one latch plate mounted in said carriage to be slidable transversely thereof, one end of said latch plate projecting beyond said carriage, said latch plate having associated therewith a depending latch dog provided with an inclined surface cooperable with an inner surface of a second slide rail so as to be slidable downwardly thereon, said latch plate and latch dog being spring biased so as to urge said latch dog towards a nested latched position within said second slide rail, said carriage being so formed that when the carriage is placed in knitting position atop the slide rails the weight distribution thereof causes said latch plate and latch dog to slide transversely of the carriage against said spring bias until said latch dog snaps into nested latched position and said carriage is positively locked to said slide rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully comprehended it will be now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a manually-operable knitting machine, incorporating the present invention, showing the carriage in its unlocked position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the carriage of the machine, broken at an intermediate location, illustrating the latching mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, in cross-section of the latching mechanism with the carriage in its unlatched and unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the carriage in its latched and locked position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, in cross-section, of a second embodiment of the latching mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates a further specific embodiment of the latching mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a knitting machine 10 which is provided with a needle bed 11 having a pair of longitudinally extending slide rails 12, 13 mounted thereon. A carriage 14 is illustrated in its unlocked position on the bed of the machine pivoted about the lower slide rail 12. As is well known, the carriage may be manipulated by hand to reciprocate back and forth along the slide rails. Where desired a motor drive (not shown) may be provided for reciprocation of the carriage. The latching mechanism is located on the underside of the carriage preferably at both ends thereof, and is identified generally by reference numeral 15.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the underside 16 of the carriage is given a camming system which includes cams such as cams 17, 18, 19, 20 which are designed to act upon the heels and butts of the needles (not shown) carried reciprocably by the bed of the machine. By reciprocating the carriage longitudinally along the slide rails the cams are caused to act upon the needles, as aforesaid, to thereby move the needles into various yarn knitting positions so as to produce the desired knitted pattern.

The latching mechanism comprises a latch plate 21 which is slidably mounted in the carriage of the machine with one end of same extending beyond the face of the carriage. As depicted, the latch plate is provided with a pair of elongated slots 22. Stud or screw members 23 secure the latch plate to the carriage but permit sliding or shifting movement of the plate to the extent of the end walls of the slots. The slot and stud or screw arrangement also affords guide means for the to and fro movement of the latch plate in the carriage. Depending from the latch plate is a latch dog 24. It will be observed that the latch dog is formed with a substantially vertically depending body and a transversely projecting flange portion which is provided at 25 with an inclined surface. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the latch dog and latch plate have been formed as a unitary member; however, it will be appreciated that these elements may be initially formed separately, as by stamping, and then secured together by suitable fastening means such as a rivet. An arrangement of this type is depicted in FIG. 6 where the latch plate 21 may be stamped and the latch dog 24 may be die cast and then secured to the latch plate by rivet 35. The carriage is provided with slot 24a therein to permit movement of the latch dog together with the latch plate.

A spring 26 is positioned on the underside of the carriage so as to urge the latch dog and latch plate transversely of the carriage. FIG. 5 depicts a modified arrangement for the spring. As illustrated in this figure spring 26 is anchored at one end to an upturned flange on the latch plate and at its other end is secured to a screw 27 which is provided with a reduced diameter portion to facilitate reception of the said other end of spring 26.

As may be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, slide rail 13 is formed with a longitudinally extending recess 28 dimensioned to receive the transversely extending flange of the latch dog in nested relationship. Such nested relationship is aided by the imposition of the spring force developed by either spring 26 or 26'.

The carriage is so formed that when it is positioned to rest upon the slide rails in knitting position the weight distribution thereof causes the inclined surface 25 of the latch dog to slide downwardly along the contiguous inner surface of the upper slide rail 13, thereby acting against the force of spring 26 or 26' until the transversely projecting flange nests within recess 28. The spring force then assists in the maintenance of the carriage in its locked position. In order to unlock the carriage it is merely necessary to depress the extended end of the latch plate a sufficient distance to unlatch the latch dog from slide rail 13 and to then pivot the carriage about the other slide rail.

As can be seen clearly in FIG. 2, the transversely projecting flange portion of the latch dog is provided, on the side edge situated closest to the end of the machine, with a rounded entrance surface 29 in order to facilitate side entry of the carriage onto the slide rail 13. The side edge 30 of the flange portion remote from such end of the machine is substantially straight. In this form the straight edge acts cooperatively with a struck portion (not shown) on the slide rail to prevent inadvertant displacement of the carriage from the bed of the ma chine.

The carriage, as depicted in FIG. 2, is provided with longitudinally depending walls 31, 32 which define a recessed section dimensioned to receive slide rail 13. The other side of wall 32 may serve as a component of the cam track for the needle butts.

The slide rail 13 is formed with a turned in portion 33 which defines recess 28 within which the latch dog is designed to nest when in its latched position. The carriage is also formed with a pivot bar 34 which is cooperable with slide rail 12 so that the carriage is pivotable thereabout from the locked position to the unlocked position.

As is well known, the knitting machine may be provided with a pair of needle beds and with a carriage positioned on each such bed. This arrangement permits the production of tubular knitted products and a wider variety of knitted patterns. It will be understood that the latching mechanism of this invention is utilizable with each of such carriages.

It will thus be seen that the latching mechanism of thisinvention enables the carriage to be pivoted from its locked position on the slide rails so as to permit access to the underlying camming section and needles whenever desired, such pivoted movement being possible Without having to disassemble any mechanical locking device. If desired, the carriage may be removed completely from the needle bed. The mechanism also insures positive locking of the carriage to the slide rails by simply pivoting the carriage into its original position atop the slide rails. The weight distribution of the carriage and the latching mechanism cooperate to effectuate such positive locking without resort to any manually operable device which requires resetting.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, arrangements of parts, and operating conditions which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of this invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. A latching mechanism for the carriage of a knitting machine adapted to be slidably carried by at least two longitudinally extending slide rails on the bed of said machine, said carriage being pivotable about one of said slide rails, said mechanism comprising at least one latch plate mounted in said carriage to be slidable transversely thereof, one end of said latch plate projecting beyond said carriage, said latch plate having associated therewith a depending latch dog provided with an inclined surface cooperable with an inner surface of a second slide rail so as to be slidable downwardly thereon, said latch plate and latch dog being spring biased so as to urge said latch dog towards a nested latched position within said second slide rail, said carriage being so formed that when the carriage is placed in knitting position on the slide rails the weight distribution thereof causes said latch plate and latch dog to slide transversely of the carriage against said spring bias until said latch dog snaps into nested latched position.

2. A latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said latch dog is formed with a substantially vertically depending body and a flange portion projecting transversely therefrom, said inclined surface being provided on said flange portion facing the inner surface of said second slide rail, said transversely projecting flange being dimensioned to seat within a longitudinally extending recess in said slide rail.

3. A latching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein spring means are provided to engage the depending body of said latch dog to urge same towards said second slide rail.

4. A latching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said transversely extending flange is provided on the side edge facing the outer end of the machine with a rounded entrance surface to facilitate side entry of the carriage onto said second slide rail, the oppositely facing side edge of said flange being substantially straight to serve as stop means preventing the inadvertant displacement of the carriage from the bed of the machine.

5. A latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said latch plate and latch dog are separately formed and subsequently secured together by fastening means.

6. A latching mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said latch plate is a plan or member having an aperture therein at an intermediate location, said latch dog being formed with a horizontal portion adapted to overlie a portion of said latch plate, a substantially vertically depending body dimensioned to fit within said aperture, and a flange portion which projects transversely from said body. 

1. A latching mechanism for the carriage of a knitting machine adapted to be slidably carried by at least two longitudinally extending slide rails on the bed of said machine, said carriage being pivotable about one of said slide rails, said mechanism comprising at least one latch plate mounted in said carriage to be slidable transversely thereof, one end of said latch plate projecting beyond said carriage, said latch plate having associated therewith a depending latch dog provided with an inclined surface cooperable with an inner surface of a second slide rail so as to be slidable downwardly thereon, said latch plate and latch dog being spring biased so as to urge said latch dog towards a nested latched position within said second slide rail, said carriage being so formed that when the carriage is placed in knitting position on the slide rails the weight distribution thereof causes said latch plate and latch dog to slide transversely of the carriage against said spring bias until said latch dog snaps into nested latched position.
 2. A latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said latch dog is formed with a substantially vertically depending body and a flange portion projecting transversely therefrom, said inclined surface being provided on said flange portion facing the inner surface of said second slide rail, said transversely projecting flange being dimensioned to seat within a longitudinally extending recess in said slide rail.
 3. A latching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein spring means are provided to engage the depending body of said latch dog to urge same towards said second slide rail.
 4. A latching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said transversely extending flange is provided on the side edge facing the outer end of the machine with a rounded entrance surface to facilitate side entry of the carriage onto said second slide rail, the oppositely facing side edge of said flange being substantially strAight to serve as stop means preventing the inadvertant displacement of the carriage from the bed of the machine.
 5. A latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said latch plate and latch dog are separately formed and subsequently secured together by fastening means.
 6. A latching mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said latch plate is a plan or member having an aperture therein at an intermediate location, said latch dog being formed with a horizontal portion adapted to overlie a portion of said latch plate, a substantially vertically depending body dimensioned to fit within said aperture, and a flange portion which projects transversely from said body. 